Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1887-03-10
"reminiscences Of the Mexican War.

VIM. p Wheeler oi Helena. wriiins
to the Independent under date of Feb
ruary 2:'d, in reference to- the Mexi
can war, says:
To-day. Februa.v 23rl. forty years
ago, was fought aud won by United
states soldiers the bloody battle oi
Buena Vista. which secured 10 ~ the
line OF the Rio traude ~ the boun-
dairy between u- and Mexico. \ gen
Grafton OF people have passed away
since then. and yet there remain a few
survivors of the singular war with
Mexico, who fought in it, and gained
20 us I'm empire: and congress has
done but Il single act of Justice in
granting them a service pension H. j.
supposed that forty or fifty cf these
survivors are now living in Montana,
and this short article will revive in
their minds the memories OF the brave
and gallant lew who bea; back and
scatter the Overwhelming forces al
MeAico's greatest general, Santa Anna.
the Hover oi the Mexican army.
II L. not proper or necessary here to
describe that battle. Every student
OF history knows the description well.
and the younger generation should
learn it. The American forces en-
gagged IN the action ri Buena Vista
wits ! % men and officers General
Santa Anna stated his iorce to he
900 in his summons to General
Taylor to surrender. oar loss was,
i'll killed, 2G1, wounded. i.jc: missing.
23; total 1IG. The Mexican oss was.
killed and wounded. 800 to 1000.
Five hundred of their dead were left
on the battlefield, and Il very large
number were scattered and deserted.
liiistory of Mexican war by +. -.
Mansfield. page, 81 and l37)
Thus IL will he seen that with less
than one-!ourth of his numbers Santa
Anna was signaliy defeated by brave
"O!d Zach" Taylor and his American
boys. and the Rio Grande secured to
us forever as the west boundary of
Texas and oi the United States.
Men from Massachusetts. New York
and the north fought side by side With
men from South Carolina. Texas and
the south. with the same bravery and
heroism they displayed in fighting
against each othernearly twenty year.
later. Their bravery was conspicuous
in both wars, and united in IA Join,
cause, can command the peace OF the
world.
No less wonderful and brilliant was
the campaign Of General Scott from
his attack Oh Vera Cruz to thucapture
of the City Of MEXICO. With less than
10000 men in any engagement. he
captured every iortiication and
stronghold oi the Mexicans, and dis
pcrsed and practically annihilatel an
army three times rs large rs his and
on the fth OF September hoisted the
tlag Of the United States upon the
national palace oi liexico over the
nails o. The Iontczunas. the effect of
which was to confirm to tile United
states the boundary of the Rio
Grande To the south boundary OF New
Mexico at tlpaso. and all tlc claim.
of Mexico 10 California north of the
l.nc from EipaSo to san DIEGO on the
Pacific ocean, which NOW includes New
Mexico, part of Colorado and all of
Arizona. California. Nevada md ttah
and n corner of Wyoming. making II
surface oi about $50, coo .,qtjare miles.
All this We owe 70 the valor 81 the sol
dier,. of he Mexican war.
Most of thi, vast region was th.n
unknown, all was supposed to be-
dry, sterile and unproductiye. II was
n part oi the Great American desert.
Now tine great frontage OH the paciiic.
the beautiful val-ys of California;.
with the rich mines and valuable min
erals and unlimited pastllraa, uf all
this great area. j. worth untold mill
ions. In value and extent II is next
to the l.oul~iana purchase.
This great e0uqaest was made b}-
J.Gu3 regular soldiers, aud 11..iU5
volunteers. during two years. Only a
part oi these volunteers were in Mex
icO at the same time, Tor the first were
enlisted but for one year. aud were
then discharged. IN an about $4,000
volunteers actually served IN Mesi'o
Ill the war. making about S6,uo1 in
all who went to IrNiro.
on the first call oi he president for
volunteers more offered III some state.
than were called ior. Twelve hundred
more were enrolled at Camp Washing
ton. Ohio, than were ropuirri. oi
whom wits ON. - ! Wis n Xotut-
teer in Camp Washington ior twenty
one days, but not a soldier in the
war for the reason given. The total
thus not excepted vino volunteered
excerlel 1000 ia he several states
For their services in Mexico. ! trust
the old veterans may lons lsu 70 eu-
Joy their pensions, aud IT., hpuor-
dine them.